Straight from the famous Queen lyrics! We want it all and want it now! Don’t we?! You might be starting your home search and think that you’re pretty level-headed about what you want. Most people do. I did too when I was looking for my last home. When I ask someone what they’re looking for, it makes me chuckle after minutes go by and they suddenly realize their list kept getting longer and longer and longer! What I encourage every buyer to do is to write down the following list: 1.) One column for Must-Haves 2.) One column for Can Live Withouts 3.) One column for Indifferent Once you’re done making that list, rate them all highest to lowest priority in each column. For instance, if you had 13 must-haves, put them in order of what you would want first, 1-13. I know it sounds crazy, but there’s a reason behind it. Let’s say a pool and tile floor is on your must-have list, but they were ranked 9 & 11 in that column. These are things that may have been deal breakers before this ...

The Home Ownership Resource Center is in a new, high-profile location in Fort Myers as it braces for a major reworking of the programs designed to save people from foreclosure. Formerly in four locations scattered around Lee County, the private, nonprofit agency moved two weeks ago into space it leases in the Fifth Third Bank building on Colonial Boulevard just west of Metro Parkway. Executive director Eddie Felton said the consolidation will let him operate more efficiently as the state prepares to roll out revised federal programs that will let more people qualify for help with foreclosure issues. Under the old setup, “My operations budget was killing me,” Felton said. “I feel really blessed” to have the new location. If the U.S. Treasury Department approves the state’s proposed revisions for the federal programs administered by the state, the changes will go into effect mid-June, said Cecka Rose Green, communications director for Florida Housing. Felton said the one he’s m...

June 1 marks the first day of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. And if Congress does not act, it could also be the day that millions of homeowners, renters, and businesses learn the hard way their property is not insured against the devastating floods that often follow a hurricane. But it's not just people who live in states affected by hurricanes who should be nervous. Flooding is one of the most common forms of natural disaster and affects nearly every region of the country—from the aftermath of blizzards in the Northeast, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, river surges in the Midwest, or tsunamis on the West coast. What does this have to do with Congress? On May 31, the National Flood Insurance Program is set to expire. Congress established the program in 1968, as flood damage is not covered under a standard homeowners policy. Today the program provides federal flood protection to more than 5.6 million individuals and businesses across the nation, in more than 20,000 commun...

U.S. News and World Report lists “real estate agent” as one of the country’s best jobs in 2012, at least sort of. While sales agent appeared nowhere on its main list of hottest jobs in the nation, it did appear as No. 19 on a side list of “business” jobs — and the article took pains to make sure readers understood the difference between a “real estate broker” and a “real estate agent.” Real estate broker was not listed as a good job. The magazine quoted Labor Department statistics, which suggest there will be a 12.2 percent growth in the number of agents needed over the next decade. It placed the median wage of sales agents at $40,030, while noting that the top 10 percent of agents can make as much as $95,200. The best job across all professions was “registered nurse.” (Old Republic Real Estate Digest, May 2012) If you are an agent or a broker, what do you think your profession would be today if you weren't doing this? Title Junction wants to know!!!